Mulcher



Patented Feb. 18, 1930 HENRY W. BURKI-IAR'I, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEEMULCHER Application filed September 29, 1928. Serial N0. 309,314.

This invention relates to agricultural implements f the dass generallyknown as mulchers which are usecl in the preparation of the s0il forplanting ancl for cultivating.

The main object 0f the invention is t0 provicle, in a simple anclclurable forma, a mulcher having removable soll working teeth uponvertically acljustable carrying elements so that the teeth may beraisecl from contact With the ground when traveling fr0m fielcl t0fielcl ancl also so that tl1e deptl1 which the teeth enter into the sollmay be variecl accorcling to the nature of the W01k in progress.

A further object of the invention is t0 provicle a machine 01 thischaracter Which employs a minimum number of' parts ancl is comsequentlyreaclily and cheaply Inanufactured ancl not liable to clerangement inuse.

The foregoing and other objects 0f the invention togetlier witl1 meanswhereby the sams may be carriecl into effect will best be uncle1stooclfrorn the following description ofone eri1bodiment of the invent-iontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is asicle view of the inv'ention; and

Figure 2 is a planview there'of.

In carrying out the invention I provicle a substantially rectangularframe 1 of suit able material such as angle iron 01 the like andcomprising the sicle rails 2 ancl the front anal rear rails 3. An axle 4is journaled trans versely across the frame 1 in bearings 5 beneath thesicle rails 2 ancl large supporting wheels 6 are mountecl upon the enclsthereof. Any conventional arrangement 0f clraft ele ments may l0eemployed such as the tongue 7 ancl brace rocls 8. A drivers seat 9 issupportecl 011 legs 10 secureol 130 tl1s sides 2 acl jacent the rear 0fthe frame.

Elongatecl cylinclrical mulcher drums o1 mulcher teeth bearing elements11 are pro videcl ancl the same are journalecl upon shafts 12 passeclthrough the encls 01: the inverted U-shaped hangers 13. Vertical shafts14 are securecl to a medial point of the U-shaped hangers 13 ancl areslidably passed upwardly through suitable laterally aligned socketsformecl inthe sicle rails 2 in tl1e rear portions thereof. These shafts14 are preferably square in cross section so that the mulcher clrums 11and hangers 13 cannot rotate as will be unclerstoocl. Lever pivot plates15 are se curecl by bolts 16 to the sicle rails 2 at a point spaceclforwardly from the shafts 14 and levers 17 are pivoted at 18 thereto.These levers 17 are proviclecl with the conventional acljusting handles19 connectecl by rods 20 t0 the pawls 21 which engage the teeth 22 onthe pivot plates 15. 'Ihe shanks of tl1e levers 17 are provicled withofi?set extensions 23 having slots 24 ancl the upper encls 0f tl1eshafts 14 are providecl with angularly bent fingers 25 aclaptecl toengage tl1ese slots in such manner that by raising orlowering theselevers tl1e mulcher drums 11 Will be raisecl or 10W- erecl as Will beunderstood.

Mulcher teeth units 26 comprising base members 27 ancl spaced .teeth 28are securecl ab equally spacecl intervals arouncl the drums 11 by bolts29 so that'the teeth project radially therefrom as shown.

From tl1e foregoing it Will be reaclily apparent that the mulcher drumsand teeth may be raisecl and lowered at Will and also that teeth ofvarious shape ancl size may be usecl according t0 the W0rk to be clone.

'VVhile I haveherein sei; forth a certain ernbocliment of my inventionit is unclerstoocl that I may Vary from the san1e in minor structuraldetails so as best t0 construct a practical clevice for the purposesintendecl, not cleparting from the spirit 01 the invention ancl withinthe scope of the appenclecl claim.

I claim:

In a cle vice of alle character clescribed, a wheel borne frame,U-shaped hangers with vertically extenclecl shafts slidably mountedthrou,qh the frame, the upper ends 0f tho saicl shafts being angularlybellt in the form of extended fingers, mulcher drums journaled in thesaid. U-shaped hangers, mulcher teeth units comprising base portions andextended spaced teeth removably secured upon the sa'1d drums by theirbase portions and adji1sting levers pivoted upon the frame and havings1ots to receive the extended fingers upon the vertical shafts wherebythe mulcher teeth may be raised 01 lowered.

In testimony whereof I afl1x my signature.

HENRY W. BURKHART.

